Improvement in fruit-pickers



parte et ne LORENZO D. COGSWELL- 0F LGWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

Lamm Patent No. anmachen November 30,1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-FICHIERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Lettera Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it indy concern:

Be itl known that I, LORENZO D. CoeswnLL, of Lowell,.in the county ofMiddlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and usefulImprove# rnents in Fruit-Pickers; and I do hereby declare that ythefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, andto the letters of reference markedthereon.

' The nature of my invention consists in providing a fruit-picker, thatmay be universally used, with but little inconvenience to the operator,in picking fruit of different kinds, either large or small, its severalparts consisting of a receiver or bag, rims, two movable cutters,continuous spring, guide or guard, and au adjnstable hinged joint, theybeing so constructed, ar ranged, and combined, as hereinafter described,as will render it eiectual, desirable, simple,- cheap, and useful.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure l represents a perspective view oi' my improved fruit-picker.

Figure 2 represents a side elevation of a part ofthe rims, showing howfastened together.

Figure 3 represents asectional view, with parts re moved, showing theconstruction and operation of the same more clearly.

Similar letters in the different figures indicate correlspending parts.j

In the construction of my improved fruit-picker, a. represents thefruit-bag or receiver, formed of any -given capacity, which is securedto the circular rim b.

On the top part of this rim l), a iiange is formed, which, when placedwithin the top rim c, .it rests on a corresponding seat, formed on thesaine, as shown in tig. 3 of the drawings.

This rim b is secured to the'rirn c by means of the brackets d d, asshown in iig. 2 of the drawings, these brackets d l being placed atsuitable distances apart from each other, as desired.'

@c is a socket, into which is iuselted the end ofthe pole or handle,this socket e being provided with a screw-thread, formed in the same,and is pivoted to the stem f, said stem being formed on and projectingfrom the rim c.

This stem f is further provided with suitable holes, h h h, all ofwhichbeing on a radius with the pivot g, which holes 7i h h correspondwith the hole formed in the socket @which receives the pin j, this` stemj', and socket c, with holes h h h, and pin j, forming an adjustablehinged joint, the object of which being to set the fruit-bag or receivera in different angles, as .may be required by the operator.

Located and formed on the rim c, directly opposite the stem f, is theear k, from which projects the stud l, on which is pivoted and operatesthe movable cutters or shears m and n, the other "endo'f said cutters mand n operating between the guide or guard o, which is secured to therim c by means of the studs p p and q.

Attached to the end of these movable cutters or shears m and u, are thecords r and s, which from thence they pass around the sheave-pulleys tand t',

iu opposite directions, said stud q forming bearings for the same, andon which is placed the cord-guide n, which keeps the cords Yr and s ontheir respective pulleys,

These cords 'r and s then pass through the eye n', formed on the stem fthe cords 'r and s then unite and form one cord, which then passesthrough eyes, they being secured to the handle or pole at the required`distances apart, the length ofthe cord c corre# sponding with thelength of the handle or pole.

Located directly behind the stud c, and formed on the eai' k, is thestud e', around which is coiled tbsl continuons spring w, said spring 1rheilig kept in position byk means ofthe collar w' and pin x.

The ends of this spring u', project-ing from the stud o', they beingnearly one-half the length of the cutters vnt and u, and connect ou theback part ot' the same by means of the links x My improved device beingthus constructed, of any given size, and its several parts adjusted inposition. and secured to the pole or handle by means oftheI socket e, isthen ready for use.

The operator selects the favorite ripefruit to he picked. By aid of thepole or handle he elevates the fruit-picker, uni-il the desired iiuitenters the top part of the receiver or bag c, which brings the steinofthe same always between the cutters or shears m and n. The cord c isthen operated upon, which operation contracts the cutters 'm and n,which brings them in contact with the same, cutting it off smoothly, thefruit dropping into the receiver a. The operator then relieves the cordr from all strain, which, by aid ot' the continuous springw, the cuttersm and -n resume their, former positions, they then being in conditionfor another similar operation.

Thus it will be seen, by the arrangement and operation of the cutters'nt and n, that however small the fruit to be picked is,4 or kind, it'it enters the receiver a, the cuttersV tu and ln are always sure tooperate upon it.

And also, by aid the operator is enabled to adjust the fruit-pieken tothe desired angle that will best suit his convenience in the operationof the same.

Besides, with the use ot' my improvement, the oper-1- ator is enabled topick his fruit at the proper time,

of the adjustable hinged joint,

easily and eeetually, without the 'lise of a ladder, or climbing intothe tree, and at the same time entirely preventing bruising or damagingthe fruit in the least7 they being as free from all defects after beingremoved from the tree as before, thus furnishing a device that issimple, cheap, durable, and useful.

7What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The movable cutters m and n, and continuous spring Iw, in combinationwith the receiver a, when operating as described and specified.

- 2. The arrangement and construction of the cutters m and n, continuousspring u', rims b and-c, re'eiver a, guide o, and adj ustable hingedjoint, all when combined and operating as described and specified.

Witnesses: LORENZO D. COGSWELL.

R. T. RAwsoN, GEO. E. PEVEY.

